The Principal Secretary for Forestry, Gitonga Mugambi, has launched a campaign aimed at encouraging residents of Mitunguu/Nkuene Sub-County in Meru County to plant one million avocado trees to enhance their economic well-being.
Mugambi called on farmers in the region and across the country to embrace avocado farming, describing the crop as a major avenue for wealth creation due to the growing demand in international markets.
Speaking during the seedlings distribution exercise, the PS said Kenya had secured access to lucrative avocado markets in China and Japan through trade engagements spearheaded by President William Ruto’s government and locals should have a share in this.
“We want avocado farming to create more wealth for our farmers. When President Ruto and I visited China and Japan, we secured access to huge markets for our produce. We now need to increase production to take advantage of those opportunities,” said Mugambi.
He said he will take the responsibility of sourcing for the quality avocado trees for the residents and theirs will only be to plant and nurture them.
True to his word, the PS kick-started the initiative by distributing 3,000 avocado seedlings to farmers in Uruku and Ukuu locations. He said other areas would be covered soon.
He noted that increasing avocado production would enable farmers to meet market demand, attract more buyers, and support the establishment of value-added industries in the region.
“Many buyers are forced to leave because farmers harvest small quantities that cannot even fill a single pickup. Our task is to plant more trees, increase production, and eventually establish more industries here to create employment opportunities,” he said.
He exuded confidence that farmers in the area could surpass the one-million-tree target, thereby strengthening their economic capacity.
“I also encourage farmers to continue investing in dairy farming. The sector remains a reliable source of income for many households and there is money in milk and we must continue creating avenues for farmers to earn more from dairy farming,” he said.
Mugambi cited a recent payout of more than Sh30 million to local dairy farmers through cooperative societies as evidence of the sector’s potential to improve livelihoods.
Additionally, he announced plans to distribute cocoa seedlings and sandalwood trees to farmers as part of efforts to diversify income sources.
He termed Sandalwood as a high-value commercial tree, urging farmers to invest in its cultivation.
by Dickson Mwiti
